Schools in Canterbury: Ofsted Ratings (2026)

166 registered schools in Canterbury, South East. 59% are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Browse the best primary and secondary schools below, then check a specific postcode for catchment distance.

166

Schools total

135 primary · 31 secondary

59%

Good or Outstanding

98 of 166

27

Rated Outstanding

71

Rated Good

Best primary schools in Canterbury

135 primary schools, sorted by Ofsted rating (Outstanding first). Showing the top 25.

SchoolPostcodeOfsted
Callis Grange Nursery and Infant SchoolCT10 3DGOutstanding
Cliftonville Primary SchoolCT9 3LYOutstanding
Folkestone, St Martin's Church of England Primary SchoolCT20 3JJOutstanding
Herne Church of England Infant and Nursery SchoolCT6 7AHOutstanding
Kingsdown and Ringwould Church of England Primary SchoolCT14 8DDOutstanding
Lyminge Church of England Primary SchoolCT18 8JAOutstanding
Monkton Church of England Primary SchoolCT12 4JQOutstanding
Ramsgate, Holy Trinity Church of England Primary SchoolCT10 1RROutstanding
River Primary SchoolCT17 0PPOutstanding
Saltwood CofE Primary SchoolCT21 4QSOutstanding
Sandgate Primary SchoolCT20 3QUOutstanding
Seabrook Church of England Primary SchoolCT21 5RLOutstanding
St Margaret's-at-Cliffe Primary SchoolCT15 6SSOutstanding
St Nicholas At Wade Church of England Primary SchoolCT7 0PYOutstanding
St Peter's Methodist Primary SchoolCT1 2DHOutstanding
St Stephen's Junior SchoolCT2 7ADOutstanding
St Thomas' Catholic Primary School, CanterburyCT1 1NEOutstanding
Sturry Church of England Primary SchoolCT2 0NROutstanding
Upton Junior SchoolCT10 2AHOutstanding
Wickhambreaux Church of England Primary SchoolCT3 1RNOutstanding
Adisham Church of England Primary SchoolCT3 3JWGood
All Soul's Church of England Primary SchoolCT19 4LGGood
Aylesham Primary SchoolCT3 3BSGood
Barham Church of England Primary SchoolCT4 6NXGood
Barton Junior SchoolCT16 2NDGood

Best secondary schools in Canterbury

31 secondary schools, sorted by Ofsted rating. Showing the top 25.

SchoolPostcodeOfsted
Barton Court Grammar SchoolCT1 1PHOutstanding
Dane Court Grammar SchoolCT10 2RTOutstanding
Dover Grammar School for GirlsCT16 2PZOutstanding
Simon Langton Girls' Grammar SchoolCT1 3EWOutstanding
Simon Langton Grammar School for BoysCT4 7ASOutstanding
Sir Roger Manwood's SchoolCT13 9JXOutstanding
The Folkestone School for GirlsCT20 3RBOutstanding
Brockhill Park Performing Arts CollegeCT21 4HLGood
Chatham & Clarendon Grammar SchoolCT11 7PSGood
Dover Grammar School for BoysCT17 0DQGood
Duke of York's Royal Military SchoolCT15 5EQGood
Folkestone AcademyCT19 5FPGood
Herne Bay High SchoolCT6 7NSGood
King Ethelbert SchoolCT7 9BLGood
Orion SpiresCT2 0HDGood
Sandwich Technology SchoolCT13 0FAGood
St Anselm's Catholic School, CanterburyCT1 3ENGood
The Canterbury AcademyCT2 8QAGood
The Harvey Grammar SchoolCT19 5JYGood
The Whitstable SchoolCT5 1PXGood
Ursuline CollegeCT8 8LXGood
Astor Secondary SchoolCT17 0ASRequires improvement
Dover Christ Church AcademyCT16 2EGRequires improvement
Goodwin AcademyCT14 9BDRequires improvement
Hartsdown AcademyCT9 5RERequires improvement

Check schools near a specific Canterbury address

Ofsted ratings tell you which schools are strong, but admission depends on distance. A PostcodeCheck area report lists every school near your exact postcode with its rating, type, and distance, plus crime, flood, broadband, and house-price data.

Schools in Canterbury: FAQ

How many schools are there in Canterbury?

There are 166 registered schools in Canterbury on the latest Ofsted/GIAS data — 135 primary, 31 secondary, and the remainder all-through, special, or 16+ providers. Of these, 59% are rated Good or Outstanding.

What is the best-rated school in Canterbury?

27 schools are rated Outstanding by Ofsted in Canterbury, and 71 more are rated Good. Outstanding schools are often oversubscribed, so proximity (your postcode's distance to the school) usually determines whether you can get a place.

How do I check school catchment for a Canterbury postcode?

Catchment depends on the exact address. Enter any Canterbury postcode into PostcodeCheck and the area report lists every school near that postcode, its Ofsted rating, type, and distance — the data admissions teams use to decide places.

Does living near a good school in Canterbury affect house prices?

Yes. Homes inside the effective catchment of an Outstanding or Good school typically command a 5-15% premium. The effect is strongest for primary schools, where catchment areas are smaller and admissions are tightly distance-based.